| During the 1990s Afghanistan
was the main source of the world's illicit
heroin supply, but from July 2000 until its
downfall over a year later the Taleban regime
enforced a ban on cultivating opium poppy, from which heroin
is manufactured. Farmers who refused to comply
had their faces blackened and were jailed; in extreme cases
they were paraded through the streets.
The study said the result was that poppy growing in Taleban controlled
areas almost ceased and that globally,
the heroin supply fell by 65%.
But since the Taleban was deposed
poppy cultivation has increased sharply. The report's author,
Professor Graham Farrell, says the success of the strategy
raised important questions about drug policy and policing,
but he said it would not be desirable, nor possible, to take such
draconian measures elsewhere.
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illicit: illegal
downfall: loss of power
enforced a ban: made sure that
the ban was obeyed
comply: do something as required
paraded: driven around or forced
to walk around in public, where other people could see them
ceased: stopped happening
deposed: removed from power by force
raised important questions: made people think again
policing: the use of police or
army to make sure that people obey the law
draconian measures: extremely harsh
action
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